When did you know?

The day I met the anesthetist that did my wifes case. Subsequently I became an RN to become an anesthetist.

When I was a Anesthesia Tech. before that I thought I wanted to be a MD (ER doc or something) but I was way impressed with the job of a CRNA and what they do. but it took exposing me to the job to want to do it.

matt

I've always wanted to do anesthesia for as long as I can remember, but came to the decision that I didn't want to be a MD and my mom told me about CRNAs and I started reasearching and decided that's what I really want to do is be a Nurse not a Doctor.

Brett

2nd semester of ADN program..went in to OR for clinical experience and found out who had THE best job in the place...got to do all the fun stuff, didn't have to do the bad stuff, and made a lot of money...and were very well respected. I could also tell that the employees in the OR also knew the CRNA's had their stuff together and kept the patient under control during the case.

I met a CRNA in the military and was quite impressed. I did some more research and decided to give it a go. I'm one of those
"bad" nurses who entered the profession only to be a CRNA. I've never been interested in staff nursing. I've also learned that the majority of the people in my class feel the same as I do.

Well, I didn't know I wanted to be a CRNA at the beginning of my nursing career. I went straight into working in an ED upon graduating from nursing school and LOVED it. In fact, I if I was to do staff nursing, that is the only place I can imagine myself working. I guess you can say I am an adrenaline Junky! ha At any rate, I got bored and needed more of a challenge. So, I decided to go back to school and get my BSN. Then, I took a clinical coordinator position and I like it, but I still needed more...At first, I thought about becoming an Emergency Nurse Practicioner, but there are only two programs in the US and I wasn't willing to move half-way across the country to study. However, after investigating other careers and shadowing them, I decided to become a CRNA. I really liked the autonomy, the respect they have earned, as well as the job they performed. Of course, if you are going to spend two yrs+ in grad school, you might as well go for the job you like the most as well as the most lucrative one in nursing. A friend once told me about anesthesia-
"99% of the time it is a great job and 1% of the time it is sheer TERROR." So, I think I will still get that adrenaline rush that I liked about working in the ED and will still have to think on my feet-so to speak. Some people have always said it takes a special, rare breed of nurse to work in certain areas and I think that those who pursue careers as CRNA's belong in that group too, if not more so. Of course, it takes special people to be nurses in general, but I think most would agree that certain personality types work better in some settings??

had my tonsils out in the fifth grade, new I always wanted to do anesthesia. ignorantly I thought nursing was a shorter route.
I have since become endeared to the nursing cause.
matt

Well, I can't explain it. I have been drawn to Nurse Anesthetist for some time now, even back around 1990. Unfortunately I have to be hit over the head pretty hard and just over the past couple of years have I allowed myself to visualize it more.
I had a low GPA (1.6) and now around 2.0 with pre-reqs in the 2.5 area. And I am about to start a job in a great hospital (in the computer dept. since it pays pretty well) and hopefully the hospital will assist in tuition later.
I am male and have resisted the nursing field for some time and, quite honestly, still have a mental block about it.

It's really too bad you feel there is such a stigma about males being nurses-that's ridiculous! You shouldn't let what other people think keep you from achieving the career you want-who knows-you may even like it. Some of the best NURSES I know are males! It is definitely not a "sissy" job, it is HARD work. Good luck to you.